Endless belt and image forming apparatus

Abstract

An endless belt including a belt main body in which a ten-point average roughness (Rz) of an inner peripheral surface thereof is in a range of 2.0 μm or higher and 10.0 μm or lower and an average distance (Sm) between projections and depressions of the inner peripheral surface is in a range of 50 μm or higher and 200 μm or lower, and a guide portion in which an average distance (Sm′) between projections and depressions on an adhesive surface thereof adhered to the inner peripheral surface of the belt main body along an edge of the belt main body is two times or higher and six times or lower the average distance (Sm) between projections and depressions in the inner peripheral surface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows an entire structure of an image forming apparatus of an embodiment;

FIG. 2 shows a structure of an inner peripheral surface of an intermediate transfer belt shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of a stretch roll shown in FIG. 1 and the intermediate transfer belt in contact with the stretch roll;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a structure of an image forming apparatus having a transfer sending belt, according to another embodiment;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of a measuring test of a thrust peel strength; and

FIG. 6 shows a result of a peel strength of an intermediate transfer belt of each of first to fourth examples and first to sixth comparative examples, and an output test.

Claims

1. An endless belt comprising: a belt main body in which a ten-point average roughness (Rz) of an inner peripheral surface thereof is in a range of approximately 2.0 μm or higher and 10.0 μm or lower and an average distance (Sm) between projections and depressions of the inner peripheral surface is in a range of approximately 50 μm or higher and 200 μm or lower; anda guide portion in which an average distance (Sm′) between projections and depressions on an adhesive surface thereof adhered to the inner peripheral surface of the belt main body along an edge of the belt main body is approximately two times or higher and six times or lower the average distance (Sm) between projections and depressions in the inner peripheral surface.

2. The endless belt according to claim 1, wherein the belt main body includes at least one of polyimide-based resin, polyamideimide-based resin and polyester-based resin.

3. The endless belt according to claim 1, wherein the endless belt is an intermediate transfer belt.

4. The endless belt according to claim 1, wherein the endless belt is a transfer sending belt.

5. The endless belt according to claim 1, wherein thrust peel strength between the belt main body and the guide portion is approximately 5.0N/mm or higher.

6. The endless belt according to claim 1, wherein thrust peel strengths between the belt main body and the guide portion both at 45° C. and 5° C. are approximately 5.0N/mm or higher.

7. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image holder;a plurality of support members in a cylindrical shape that have recessed guide receivers formed in ends of the cylindrical shaped peripheral surface; andan intermediate transfer belt that is stretched by the support members and circulates and moves between the support members, receives transfer of a toner image from the image holder, and carries the transferred toner image to a position where the toner image is transferred onto a recording medium, the intermediate transfer belt comprising: a belt main body in which a ten-point average roughness (Rz) of an inner peripheral surface thereof is in a range of approximately 2.0 μm or higher and 10.0 μm or lower and an average distance (Sm) between projections and depressions of the inner peripheral surface is in a range of approximately 50 μm or higher and 200 μm or lower, anda guide portion in which an average distance (Sm′) between projections and depressions on an adhesive surface thereof adhered to an inner peripheral surface of the belt main body along an edge of the belt main body is approximately two times or higher and six times or lower the average distance (Sm) between projections and depressions in the inner peripheral surface,wherein the toner image is formed on a surface of the image holder, and an image consisting of a fixed toner image is formed on the recording medium by transferring and fusing the toner image onto the recording medium.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the belt main body includes polyimide-based resin, polyamideimide-based resin or polyester-based resin.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein thrust peel strength between the belt main body and the guide portion is approximately 5.0N/mm or higher.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein thrust peel strengths between the belt main body and the guide portion both at approximately 45° C. and 5° C. are approximately 5.0N/mm or higher.

11. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image holder;a plurality of support members in a cylindrical shape that have recessed guide receivers formed in ends of the cylindrical shaped peripheral surface; anda recording medium transfer belt that is stretched by the support members and circulates and moves between the support members while carrying the recording medium thereon, and receives transfer of a toner image on the recording medium from the image holder, the recording medium transfer belt comprising: a belt main body in which a ten-point average roughness (Rz) between an inner peripheral surface is in a range of approximately 2.0 μm to 10.0 μm and an average distance (Sm) between projections and depressions of the inner peripheral surface is in a range of approximately 50 μm to 200 μm, anda guide portion in which an average distance (Sm′) between projections and depressions on an adhesive surface thereof adhered to the inner peripheral surface of the belt main body along an edge of the belt main body is approximately two times or higher and six times or lower of the average distance (Sm) between projections and depressions in the inner peripheral surface,wherein the toner image is formed on a surface of the image holder, and an image consisting of a fixed toner image is formed on the recording medium by transferring and fusing the toner image onto the recording medium.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the belt main body includes polyimide-based resin, polyamideimide-based resin or polyester-based resin.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein thrust peel strength between the belt main body and the guide portion is approximately 5.0N/mm or higher.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein thrust peel strengths between the belt main body and the guide portion at approximately 45° C. and 5° C. are approximately 5.0N/mm or higher.